The Fallen (Book 1) (4 page)

Dale raised his hand and Dannicus nodded, giving him permission to speak.
‘Maybe it’s a ruse,’ he said.

‘
Continue,’ King Dannicus ordered.

‘
Well, maybe there is no object or person that the fallen are seeking. What if the fallen really do mean to invade Alkira? They know we’ll be suspicious of any of their warriors moving through the realm. So they invent a reason, carefully delivered to one of our agents. The agent, whether they’re an innocent pawn or a traitor, tells us just what the fallen wish us to believe. So we sit back and wait to see if they cause trouble, which gives them the time to bring in even more people.’

‘
It does seem that something terrible happens every time Nandul of Tarl is involved,’ Dannicus commented.

‘
That murderer!’ Dale spat out the words in anger and added a few choice curses.

Duke Li placed his hand on his
Squire’s shoulder. ‘Remember, you are addressing His Majesty.’

Squire Dale
’s face flushed deep red. ‘I apologize, Majesty.’

‘
He has much blood on his hands, Squire. That of your parents and the people of your home town,’ said Dannicus, ‘and apparently he killed a guardian called Tebur, son of Lord Tiernan and Lady Karrijeuiga of Daoine Maithe, though reports of this event are a little vague. No-one seems to remember exactly what happened and I’ve never asked Timbul or Araas.’

‘
He killed a guardian!’ Dale was aghast. ‘Is that possible?’

‘
Very difficult for us, not so difficult for the fallen, it would seem,’ answered Dannicus.

‘
The fallen have ever resented the Daoine Maithe, but to murder the son of the Lord and Lady seems nonsensical,’ said Aithne.

‘
To murder my parents was nonsensical,’ said Dale.

‘
Not to Nandul,’ Li observed. ‘When he went after Tebur he decided the best route was past Storm Haven and up the eastern coast. The only obstacle was the garrison at East Inlet. Baron Daarin had established continual patrols between the mountains and the sea, but the fallen moved through fast and they practically removed East Inlet from the map. It wasn’t difficult then for Nandul to approach the southern borders of the land of the guardians.’

‘
How was the guardian killed?’ asked Dale.

‘
Witnesses disagree on exactly what happened,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Apparently Tebur was more than Nandul’s match with the sword and when it appeared Tebur would have victory Nandul drew a knife and threw it at one of the humans. They say Tebur leapt in front of the human as he saw was his duty and the knife hit him. Apparently it wasn’t a terrible wound, but some say Nandul must have poisoned the blade.’

‘
That sounds like the fallen. They are entirely without honor. Nasty, sneaky, malicious bastards,’ said Dale angrily.

‘
I understand your animadversion,’ Li said adamantly. ‘We came as quickly as possible from Emerald. We were too late, but even had we arrived earlier it’s unlikely that we could have made any difference. You were one of the few survivors Dale.’ The group sat silently for a few minutes.

‘
Do we know which way they came into Alkira this time?’ Aithne asked Dannicus.

‘
The Ice Coasts are dangerous during the winter so perhaps they came across Skeleton’s Rest.’ The pass through the desert had originally been called Sheldon’s Quest, after Sheldon of Sagria who successfully found a way across the dangerous, burning desert sands. Most people now called it Skeleton’s Rest due to the large number of remains of people who had not successfully crossed the stretch of desert.

‘
If they came through the desert, the people of Sheldon’s Mark would have noticed them,’ Elizabeth commented, referring to the small township on the western edge of the desert.

‘
But if they somehow managed to come across the Ice Coast and past the Emerald Mountains I doubt anyone would have seen them. Their skills in the forests and mountains are unsurpassed,’ said Duke Li, ‘with the exception of the guardians…and perhaps that Captain...’

‘
Borgulnay?’ the King smiled.

‘
Yes. Borgulnay; he’s a ghost, that one!’

‘
So; are the fallen actually looking for something, and if so, what or who are they looking for?’ Queen Aithne dragged the conversation back on track.

‘
And if they’re not looking for something, should we strike now?’ asked Li. ‘And if we strike now, can we overcome them or even drive them back to their own land? If we don’t strike, will we regret our indecision?’

Dale shook h
is head. ‘If they attack us, we’d be fools to believe we could defend ourselves without help. Surely we need to find out what they’re up to before we attempt something so absurdly reckless.’

‘
Timbul suggested I speak to his father,’ said Dannicus.

‘
I don’t imagine Timbul would have made that proposal lightly,’ said Li.

Dannicus sat in silence for a moment before speaking.
‘I would like a moment with my Queen please.’

Everyone rose and followed Duke Li
across the balcony leaving King Dannicus and Queen Aithne alone. A few moments later the King spoke quietly to Duke Li and Princess Elizabeth and everyone returned to the table. Dannicus folded his arms and leaned on the table.

‘
Aithne, take Eijelin south by ship to visit your mother in Tarlique. Beth will be delighted to see you both. If the fallen are planning anything that could instigate a war, the people will need you, particularly if the fallen are moving up from the south. The pass between the mountains and the desert must be watched. Elizabeth,’ Dannicus turned to his sister. ‘I will travel through the land of the Daoine Maithe and glean what information I can from Lord Tiernan and Lady Karrijeuiga. I want you to remain here as Vicereine in my absence. Duke Li, you need to stay here too, until I return. Squire Dale, I want you to do whatever you think necessary to confirm if there are any more traitors here within the castle. Be wary. Don’t let anyone know what you are doing.’

‘
Sir, what do you seek to learn from the guardians?’

‘
I wish to know why the fallen are suddenly moving through our land and, if Jaralina has not been fed a deliberate falsehood, what they might be looking for, and why they’re looking for it. It may also be useful to know why they resent the Daoine Maithe.’

Squire Dale laughed
humorlessly. ‘Resent? The fallen absolutely and completely
hate
the guardians with every morsel of their being. They loathe the guardians, they detest them.’

‘
But why?’ the King wondered aloud.

‘
Perhaps some ancient disagreement?’ suggested Dale.

‘
I intend to find out. It could be important, and it doesn’t hurt to visit those who would be our best allies should the fallen actually stage an invasion. My visit will be brief.’ He hesitated. ‘I just don’t believe that’s what they’re doing. This doesn’t feel like an invasion. There’s rationale behind everything the fallen do but to invade Alkira is illogical. There are places north of Nyinaku which would be easier to take and offer far less resistance than we would, especially as we live on the doorstep of the land of the guardians.’

‘
Maybe they think to invade us and use Castle as a stepping stone towards the Daoine Maithe. We’re the closest city of any significance,’ said Dale.

‘
I have no idea. It’s my hope they will shed some light on this. We will go ahead as planned. Find Danil and send him to me.’

Chapter
3

River Ringo

The journey from Cullen Ringo to Ringo
’s Crossing was uneventful. The coach Governor Ringo provided for his daughters was quite comfortable though Elena, Immosey and Louisa had ridden over the rough road for long enough to be pleased to be leaving it for the boat that would take them down the River Ringo to Castle.

The boat turned out to be a large
, flat bottomed barge, constructed of lumber which was being sent downstream to Castle. The lumber merchant was quite agreeable to having the daughters of the Governor and their military escort travel aboard his barge, as this meant serious protection should thieves attempt to waylay the barge and demolish it to steal the lumber. It was more common for bandits to ambush merchants travelling in caravans on the road which led through Three Ways and on to Castle, but lumber theft from the river was not unheard of due to its high value and the fact that many buyers would turn a blind eye to the origin of the lumbar in order to have enough to meet current high demands. The merchant, whose lumber now provided transport for the girls, was quite confident his merchandise would reach Castle safely and was almost beside himself with greed at not needing to spend a fortune hiring guards. So elated was he to be provided with such complete protection for his goods that he decided not to accompany the barge but rather to place its safe delivery in the hands of Captain Cassic.

The barge would drift down the river to
Castle. Cassic’s company were to take control of the barge which simply meant using poles to ensure the barge didn’t drift against the shore or into too shallow water along the way.  Cassic selected which soldiers would remain aboard for the protection of the Governor’s daughters, preferring those who were most confident in the water and least likely to be distracted by pretty young ladies. The remainder of the company would follow the barges on the track that ran adjacent to the river. A shelter was erected in the center of the barge and equipped with a suitable sleeping area for the girls and a small table and chairs where they could rest and eat during the day. Cassic decided only to remove his precious cargo from the barge if they were under attack, shuddering at the thought of the three lovely girls ending up in the middle of even a minor skirmish.

The girls climbed aboard the flat barge
and soldiers came forward with their baggage only to be hurried along by Captain Cassic when they paused to stare. The girls made their way to the small shelter as it had been politely suggested for their own safety that they remain there until the barge was underway. They also knew there were areas along the river where crocodiles were numerous, so the middle of the barge seemed a good place to stay.

Elena sat on one of the seats and
gazed over the lazily drifting river. Huge white tyallas lined the banks of the river, hanging over the water providing lovely shady patches. Elena pulled her shawl around her thin shoulders and shivered as the wind lifted her hair. There was a crisp winter breeze blowing across the river and the water was chilly, as she discovered when her youngest sister had deliberately splashed her when they were coming aboard. She turned to see Immosey instructing Louisa to sit down.

‘
The bags can wait Louisa,’ Elena agreed, motioning to the remaining empty chair. Louisa sat down, stretching her legs out and trying unsuccessfully to hide an enormous yawn.

Immosey laughed.
‘You need to have a little sleep Lou. There is absolutely nothing to do but sit and stare at the river and possibly stare at that soldier over there. There will be nothing to do this afternoon and nothing to do this evening, and then tomorrow, well…nothing.’

Louisa sighed.
‘Then I shall sit and stare at the river. Which soldier? The red head or the one with dark hair and the cross bow?’

‘
You could have a sleep if you wish. There are beds prepared behind those curtains. I can’t sleep on anything less than a good thick mattress and you know how Elena likes to have at least three soft pillows. I meant the soldier standing at the back of the barge. He seems to be in charge of the poling.’ Immosey inclined her head in the direction of a large soldier who was using a pole to ensure the barge didn’t end up trapped against the banks of the shallow river.

‘
There’s still a lot to be done since we need to eat and food won’t prepare itself. He’s very tall isn’t he?’ Louisa observed.

‘
Maybe he’s of the Daoine Maithe. He has the shoulders and the bright blue eyes,’ said Immosey in a loud whisper.

Elena and Louisa laughed, and Elena added,
‘And maybe ‘red head’ and ‘cross bow’ were sent by Father to keep an eye on you!’

Imm
osey turned her face towards the cold breeze and deftly wound her long hair up into a knot. She was ever so slightly taller than her tiny older sister but apart from Elena’s hair being very straight, the sisters were similar enough in looks to be twins. ‘I still say it would have been much more interesting had we been allowed to ride.’ Immosey was already bored.

Elena
groaned and sat forward. ‘Immy, you may have enjoyed days of bumping along the dusty road on the back of a smelly, sweaty horse but I for one was most relieved when this luxurious ship was constructed just for me.’

‘
Don’t get her going Ellie,’ Louisa warned. ‘She actually would have enjoyed herself if we had ridden the entire distance.’

Louisa closed her dark eyes and relaxed into her chair, appreciating her friendship with the two girls she
considered her sisters. Her mind wandered back to her childhood. Her parents had been bakers, though she couldn’t remember them at all. She found it strange that she remembered absolutely nothing before the time of the great flooding. She couldn’t remember what her parents looked like or the house where they had lived. When she tried to remember her life before the flood, her mind was curiously blank. She was a small child, about four years old at the time of the terrible storms, which were the most severe the country had known. Hundreds of people were killed and several towns destroyed in the wind and water. She could vaguely remember being held up in the floodwater by a man who valiantly fought against the raging torrent, managing to push her up into the branches of a tree before he was swept to his death. Later she learned that the man was Caedmon, who had been King of Alkira at the time. King Caedmon had been in the town working alongside the soldiers, trying to evacuate the people along the edge of the raging river, when a barrier collapsed and many were swept away. The crown passed to his son Dannicus, the current King. Louisa’s parents disappeared in the floods and Queen Kita found Louisa whilst searching for her husband. She had taken the little girl to Castle where she had been cared for briefly by the Trainer at Arms Larrence who was known simply as ‘Trainer’ and his wife Milly. Within weeks she was taken to Cullen Ringo and placed in the home of Governor Ringo and Lady Megan. It was supposed that the child would be raised by the servants to be a maid to the Governor’s own daughters, but Lady Megan had taken to raising the girl personally and Elena and Immosey had accepted her unquestioningly as their sister.

When Louisa woke she found she was lying on one of the beds in the little shelter. She sat up
and looked around. She couldn’t remember coming in to the shelter. Picking up her shawl she walked outside wondering if Elena and Immosey had eaten but they were seated just where they had been before Louisa had fallen asleep.

‘
Hello sleepy!’ Immosey greeted Louisa with a smile.

‘
I’m sorry I fell asleep. I don’t even remember going into the shelter,’ said Louisa. She usually required little sleep. She had a strange tendency to lie awake at night, sometimes all night, lost in deep thought without actually sleeping, but this didn’t concern her as she always felt rested in the morning.

‘
Actually you fell asleep out here, in your chair,’ said Elena. ‘The tall one carried you to the shelter.’

‘
Have you eaten? Can I prepare something for you? Do you need to sleep?’ The words tumbled from Louisa as she wondered how long she had slept.

‘
Yes, no, and no,’ said Immosey. ‘We ate a good meal, we even saved you some food, and we have slept.  You must be hungry, Lou. There’s bread and cheese in the meat safe, and plenty of fruit, and some other nice little delicacies. Father spoils us, as always.’

Louisa ignored the food as she
didn’t feel hungry. ‘You’ve changed clothes,’ she stated, as Elena arranged her dress around her.

‘
Well, we felt a little dusty after the journey in the coach yesterday,’ Elena explained. ‘I can’t stand feeling dirty.’

‘
Yesterday!’ Louisa leapt to her feet and glanced at the sun. She lowered herself gently into the seat. ‘Well I really did sleep!’  She wondered why she had slept for so long. It felt very peculiar. She couldn’t remember ever having slept for more than three or four hours at a time.

‘
How did we go with packing? Did we remember everything? Have we need of anything?’ she asked.

‘
Yes!’ said Immosey, ‘a glass of ice cold cider from the orchards of Rammon.’

‘
A poet to entertain us,’ said Elena.

‘
Better still, a singer.’

‘
Perhaps some oysters from the rocks near the Reef of Peril.’ Elena added her favorite delicacy to the list.

Louisa rolled her eyes heavenward and shook her head.
‘Certainly, and perhaps I shall reach up into the sky and bring down a pig for our supper.’

The sis
ters joined in with her laughter. ‘There truly is
nothing
for us to do Lou,’ said Immosey. ‘So relax. We’re bored silly, but there’s nothing we can do about it. I wish I could do something;
anything
to liven things up. As it is, we’ll sit back and enjoy the apricity.’

The day
passed slowly